A look at some of the best art and design castaways on Desert Island Discs

Desert Island Discs is a British institution. First broadcast in 1942, the premise is super simple – if marooned on a desert island which songs would you take with you (as well as a book and a luxury item). Of course the show is about much, much more than music and thanks to the incredible guests the show attracts (being invited on DID is a real cultural badge of honour) and the skills of the interviewers, each show becomes a fascinating insight into some of the most interesting minds around. You can (and really should) spend some time exploring the incredible archive but here we’ve picked out a few shows featuring castaways from the art and design world that we recommend.

You can add any you think we’ve forgotten in the comments section at the bottom.

Tracey Emin

Everyone has an idea what Tracy Emin is like; her DID interview will confirm some of your preconceptions and very much challenge others.

James Dyson

Arguably the most important product designer working today, and Dyson explains why he chose Dylan is a real treat.

Damien Hirst

It’s worth bearing in mind that everything Hirst does – including media appearances – seems to be part of his personal brand development, but there are moments here when he appears to drop his guard.

Jan Pienkowski

The perfect combination of a compelling personal story and a real insight into an art form (children’s illustration in this case).

Antony Gormley

A really eclectic selection from artist Antony Gormley and some enjoyable sparring with host Sue Lawley.

Peter Blake

Artists that are genuine cultural icons are pretty rare so this is a privilege to listen to. The fact he picks The Spice Girls’ Wannabe for his daughter Rose is particularly charming.

Rankin

It’s Nice That director Will Hudson sent this round to the team shortly after it was broadcast and he’s right that it’s well worth a listen. He doesn’t come across how you probably imagine he might.

Ralph Steadman

Anyone who was Hunter S Thompson’s sidekick is alright by us. A rare talent and an extraordinary life story.

FL@33’s graphic arts label Stereohype is celebrating its tenth birthday this year, an occasion that also marks the launch of its 1,000th button badge. Over the years, these have been designed by the likes of Supermundane, Jon Burgerman, Lawrence Zeegen and Luke Best, to name but a few, and they’re currently on show with some brilliant posters at London College of Communication in an exhibition running until 8 November.

Cycling magazine Rouleur has always been about much more than spokes and lycra. The publication – which in 2012 released previously unseen photographs by Henri Cartier-Bresson – boasts a considered design aesthetic and stunning imagery, and is now celebrating the launch of its 50th issue with a cover designed by Sir Paul Smith. To mark this milestone, Rouleur’s assistant editor Andy McGrath talks us through some of his favourite cover images and the stories behind them.At the turn of 2006, ahead of the magazine’s first issue, founder Guy Andrews had the idea to let an emphatic image stand out: do away with coverlines and clutter, and do away with a tenet of conventional magazine-selling in the process. It produced the first and probably most iconic Rouleur cover, which sold out in a flash. Eight years on, we’re still surprised what they go for on eBay.
It’s a candid evocation of the suffering and sacrifice needed to succeed in the sport. It’s individual agony for Jörg Jaksche, photographed here after a mountain-top finish at the 2005 Tour of Switzerland, but also a shared feeling: any cyclist who has pushed themselves to the limit knows how Jaksche feels.
As farmers rallied against price fixing of agricultural goods, the Tour bunch took a breather and Magnum photographer Gruyaert had his image. Simple, understated cool, at a time when the Tour de France was on the cusp of became significantly more commercialised.Rouleur is about the fabric of the surrounding place and culture, as well as that of the professional sport, so we couldn’t ignore Mike Chick’s striking image. Like some kind of Lynchian insert, what’s a Bolivian army band doing at the country’s national bike race? And what songs are they playing?This was one of a series of never-before-published images by the father of modern photojournalism, taken from the Magnum archives. Paris’s now-demolished velodrome was a loud, late-night calling point for the capital’s demimonde for decades. Cartier-Bresson captured the striking characters and the piercing essence of the event, rather than the racing action. Everything is unmistakably ‘90s, from Miguel Indurain, the dominant Tour de France rider of that decade, passing at full tilt, to the garish fashion and thick-rimmed glasses. What completes the image is the mysterious fan staring down the camera.
A fading sticker on the window of the Poli bike shop in Lucca, Italy, made from a photograph of one of Marco Pantani’s most famous victories. His arms are outstreched in a crucifix pose, reflecting the religious-like zeal of his supporters.
The legendary British designer and cycling aficionado was featured in issue 12, and it was great to work with him again for the cover of the 50th issue. Every item in Paul’s montage is from his own collection of memorabilia, including his own racing licence from his adolescence spent road racing in the early 1960s.

Most of merely dabble in the world of fashion and recycle what little knowledge we have by saying phrases like “yah that’s so hot right now.” But recycle no more as SHOWstudio will be your fashion education forevermore.

Earlier this week we mined our collective knowledge to see what advice we could offer those starting out at art school this autumn. Then we realised why stop there – what about all the amazing creatives we know and love around the world; what advice would they give those embarking on this exciting, and sometimes scary new chapter? So over the next few weeks we’re going to hear from a whole host of them, starting today with Jon Burgerman, Stefan Sagmeister, Carol Morley and Johnny Kelly… I didn’t start at Central Saint Martins till I was 24 and it was at a point when I was more
than happy to leave the “real” world and know what I was going to be doing for the next three years. I studied Fine Art Film and Video and loved it. It changed my life.

There’s a reason why girls like me used to babysit, and it sure wasn’t for the £2-per-hour wage and free Cheese strings. SNOOPING, dear friends, is one of the most seductively naughty and curious pastimes of the world. Walking past a home with all the lights on at night gives me the same sensation as finding a fiver on the floor and here’s why – how others decorate and personalise their places of dwelling is infinitely interesting, and the chance to cast your own judgment on their choices is addictive.

It may surprise you to find out that the It’s Nice That Bookshelf feature has been going strong since 8 January 2011. Yep, it’s old, and like a grumpy old uncle it’s rarely actually been celebrated. The weekly sneaky peek into the bookshelves of the creative and famous (sing to tune of Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous by Good Charlotte) is a long-term favourite of many an It’s Nice That reader, and we decided to do a few posts to celebrate some gems within it.